Doctors Getting Your Message and Avoiding Drug Sales Reps!

Seven percent of doctors nationwide now refuse to meet directly with drug sales reps, and in some regions that number can be as high as 50 percent.

Formal group practice policies are increasingly restricting the access that drug sales reps have to individual doctors. These "closed door" policies are becoming more and more common around the country, especially in Washington, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Managed care policies that favor low-cost generics are also making it more difficult for sales reps to push expensive name-brand drugs.

As a result, drug sales reps are facing massive layoffs and falling incomes as commissions drop. Pfizer is laying off 2,200 sales reps, about one-fifth of its U.S. sales force.

Drug companies literally spend tens of billions of dollars every year persuading physicians and consumers to consider "newer and better" drugs that no one needs.

Reports in the mainstream news media about heinous drug company practices are a factor, but it is important to remember that YOU make a difference. When you share information you learn on this site with your friends and family you are raising the consciousness of what our culture will tolerate.

If enough of you do it they simply will not be able to get away with this type of reckless disregard for human life so they can profit handsomely.

Another result of all this increased attention is that doctors may be finally cutting themselves off from all of the trinkets given by drug reps that litter their offices -- from sticky notes to tissue paper -- not to mention that pipeline of free samples.

Heck, after awhile it just becomes too embarrassing to display drug company freebies, it becomes very "uncool."

No wonder there was so much attention paid to Pfizer's late 2006 announcement that it was slashing 20 percent of its sales force. And, perhaps that's why drug marketers are rerouting those funds to the Internet, in the form of branded Web sites, banner ads and prime search engine placement.

Drug companies will, of course, continue to spend vast sums of cash marketing to consumers and creating biased medical studies, but at least it's getting harder for them to get at the person who prescribes the drugs.

Now, if the dominant medical paradigm would turn away from prescribing needless, useless drugs altogether, that would be a true leap forward compared to this baby step in the right direction. But at least it is a step in the right direction.

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Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your health care professional before using products based on this content.

If you want to use an article on your site please click here. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Mercola is required.